cannan



(No Model.)

J. J. CANNAN.

COUPLING AND AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT BREAKER FOR FIRE ALARM CIRCUITS.

Patented Mar. 19, 1889.

I O C O O UNITED STATES PATENT OEricE.

JOHN J. OANNAN, OF ROCHESTER, NETY YORK.

COUPLlNG AND AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT-BREAKER FOR FIRE-ALARM CIRCUITS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 399,738, dated March 19, 1889.

Application filed January 26, 1889, Serial No. 297,676. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1,- JOHN J. CANNAN, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Couplings and Automatic Circuit-Breakers for Fire-Alarm Circuit-s; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and the figures and letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates more particularly to that class of devices for giving an alarm of fire or turning on a jet or supply of water by the interruption of an electric current, which operates the alarm or valve-tripping devices through the medium of an eleetro-magnet interposed in the circuit traversed by the current, and has for its object to produce a simple and efficient device, offering no resistance to the current, and cheap and easily manu factured, and applied by persons not particu larly skilled in electrical science, and withal not liable to deteriorate or become inoperaive by being placed in exposed positions or from long use.

To these ends the invention consists in a combined breaker and coupling formed by clamping the wires between suitable plates, one or both of which are preferably good conductors of electricity, and maintaining the clamping-plates in position by means of a fusible retainer or metal, which will melt at a low temperature.

The invention further consists in certain novel details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, all as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out particularly in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective View of a device constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a crosssectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a view of the device applied directly to the wall or ceiling. Fig. 4: is a view of a modification.

Similar letters of reference in the several figures indicate the same parts.

In the preferred form of device (shown in Figs. 1 and I employ two plates or washers,

A and B, the former composed of hard rubber, vulcanized fiber, or other suitable non-conducting material, and the latter, B, of any good conductor such as copper. The aperture through the center of the outer washer is of relatively large diameter and is bridged by the washer or button C, of soft or fusible metal, such as is usuallyemployed in devices of this character, and through the center of all three washers is passed the screw D or other similar fastening device, which enters the base G. The head (I of the fastening device bears on the button 0 and holds the parts in adjusted position, and may be made of relatively smaller diameter thanthe aperture in washer B, in order that the latter may pass readily over the same, for a purpose which .will presently appear.

The linewire is divided and the ends E F passed in between the washers A B, suitable recesses being preferably formed in the latter to aid in holding them in place, and for. additional security the extreme ends may be bent to one side, as shown. The screw or fastening device D is then set up, firmly clamping the ends of the line-wire and insuring perfect contacts for the passage of the current. In applying the devices they are interposed in the circuit at all points of danger, the number capable of being included in one circuit being practically unlimited, as there is no appreciable resistance, and should a fire occur in the vicinity of one of them it will be seen that the soft-metal button will be fused at once and the washer B be allowed to drop clear of the terminals of the line-wire, breaking the circuit instantly, the enlarged apertu re at the center permitting it to drop over the head of the screw, if necessary.

In the application of the device shown in Fig. the ceiling or wall is supposed to be of wood or non-conducting material, which will afford a place of attachment for the washer without the interposition of the base-piece G. Thus, for instance, should the ceiling be not plastered,the devices maybe secured directly to the joists or rafters.

If desired, the bottom washer of non-conducting material may be dispensed with and the outer washer alone employed, the terminals of the line-wire being clamped directly against the support or base, as will be readily understood; but the-bottom washer is preferred, as it forms a hard yet sufficiently yielding surface to hold the wires firmly.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 the clamping-washer is made of non-conducting material and the wires are crossed to make the contact, as shown, one of the terminals (the under one) being held in proximity to the base, even when the washer is removed, (preferably by a staple, g,) and the other or overlying terminal being provided with means for causing its separation from the under terminal (preferably a weight, h) the moment the washer drops, thus breaking the circuit.

A device constructed in accordance with my invention, it will be seen, forms an efficient coupling for joining the terminals of a wire, and also forms an efficient circuitbreaker for fire-circuits. The device may be interposed in circuits for ringing alarms or for turning on water, or both, such as are now in common use in factories, warehouses, and other buildings without altering or changing such circuits in the least.

It is not essential that the base-piece be secured to a stationary support, as it is obvious that the terminals of the line-wires between two points of support may be united by the device, as in such instance the terminals will pull apart the moment that the pressure 011 the clamping-washer is removed by the melting of the fusible button.

Then the fusible button is of sufficient thickness, it is immaterial whether the clamping-washer drops clear off over the screw-head or not, as it will drop a sufficient distance to insure the-breaking of the current; but I prefer the construction heretofore described, in which the washer drops clear off.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is- 1. In an automatic circuit-breaker for firealarm circuits, the combination, with the base, of the plate for clamping the terminals of the line-wire, the fusible button resting 011 the plate, and the fastening device engaging the button to clamp the plate and base together to hold the said terminals, substantially as described.

2. In an automatic circuit-breaker for firealarm circuits, the combination, with the base,

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of the washer for clamping the terminals of the line-wire, the fusible button resting on the washer, and the screw passing through the button and washer and engaging the base and button for clamping the washer and base,

together to hold said terminals, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an automatic circuit-breaker for firealarm circuits, the combination, with the base, of the washer having the relatively large apertures therein, the fusible button resting on the washer, and the screw passing through the button and washer and engaging the base for clamping the parts together and having the head of less diameter than the aperture in the washer, whereby the washer will drop oif when the button is melted, substantially as described.

at. In a coupling and automatic circuitbreaker, the combination, with the base, of the washer resting thereon having the grooves in its under surface for the terminals of the line-wire, the fusible button resting on the washer, and the screw engaging the button and base for clamping the parts together, substantially as described.

5. In a coupling and automatic circuitbreaker, the combination, with the base, of the insulating-washer resting thereon and the metallic washer, between which the terminals of the line-wire are clamped, the superimposed fusible button, and the screw engaging the button and base to clamp the parts together, substantially as described.

6. In a coupling and automatic circuitbreaker, the combination, with the base, of the insulating-washer resting thereon, and the metallic washer having the relatively large central aperture, the superimposed fusible button, and the screw passing through the button and washer and engaging the base for clamping the parts together, and having'the head of relatively smaller diameter than the aperture in the metallic washer, whereby said washer will drop oif when the button is melted, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

JOHN J. CANNAN.

I'Vitnesses:

CHARLES REICH, J AMES SULLIVAN. 

